Welcome to my blog and thanks soso much for spending a little while peeping into my world

ARTS, BELLYDANCING, CRAFTS
BELLYDANCING, ARTS, CRAFTS
CRAFTS, BELLYDANCING, ARTS

whichever order I put them in, these are my passion!

... all from my little home studio in Durban, on the east coast of sunny South Africa!

"I used to think that anyone doing anything weird was weird. I suddenly realized that anyone doing anything weird wasn't weird at all and it was the people saying they were weird that were weird." -- Paul McCartney









Tuesday, October 25, 2011

MIDNIGHT MADNESS SKETCH CHALLENGE #127

This week’s sketch...it's "YOUR PICK" Make it fancy, clean and simple, or somewhere in-between. Remember to click on the sneak peek button on the side bar for the following weeks sketch each Friday.
"YOUR CHOICE"
Enter one style or both this week.
Just have fun and come play with us :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Our MMSC127 Weekly Bonus Sponsor is..
House-Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge is a site filled with wonderful projects and techniques using House-Mouse & Friends Stamps that include House-Mouse, Happy Hoppers, and Gruffies Images!.  We are not affiliated with HMD. We are just a super enthusiastic group of Stampers who LOVE creating with these Stamps.  We post a NEW challenge every other week on Mondays. We offer great prizes to those who enter projects into our challenges using these stamps. So come visit us to join the FUN and get inspired by the beautiful samples from the TALENTED Design Team here: http://housemouse-challenge.blogspot.com/
One lucky winner will receive all four of these brand NEW House-Mouse & Friends Stamps!!!!
Thank you for your sponsorship America :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is this week's Sketch and my card using an image from the Priscillastyles store called Christmas Ornaments:



I coloured using copics and a white gel pen, and covered both the image and the embossed background using some really sparkly crystal glitter accents. The top border is punched using a Fiskars punch and the two turquoise gems come from my bellydancing costume making stash.

This sketch is a really easy one to use this week, even if you decide to go for the fancy option.

!I'd love to know what you think of my Christmas card using the unconventional olours of lilac and turquoise - my fave colour combo at the moment!

luv n huggz
jen
Durban, South Africa

Monday, October 24, 2011

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

October is BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH!

I just love it that there are so many challenges that support this important cause, and I'd like to enter my card in a few of them:


My card features a Bugaboo image called "Hang in There" and the sentiment of the same name, and I coloured using Copics and a Hybrid white gel pen. Please visit the Bugaboo store and have a look-see at the many great images av ailable, for every occasion you may need.

I add a rose and two rosebuds, a pink ribbon metal charm and a little guardian angel metal charm, a scrap of ribbon and some pink rhinestones.

I would like to add my card to the following challenges:
The Outlawz, Monday's Greeting Challenge, 24 October BCA _ use pink
Pan Pastel UK (Glitter & Glitz)
The Squirrel and Fox - One for the girls
Paper Cupcakes - Magical Monday Color Challenge (Pink)


Luv n huggz
Jen
Durban
South Africa

Saturday, October 22, 2011

BUGABO STAMPS CHALLENGE AT CATCH THE BUG !!!


Today’s theme is “Homecoming (Use Your School Colors) so basically any theme but use your school colors.

The rules are simple:

Create a an HOMECOMING/SCHOOL COLOR project and post a link to it on Bugaboo Stamps' challenge blog, Catch the Bug, by 10/29/11 at 6:00 AM EST to be entered a random drawing for three digi prize packs - seven (7) (using a Bugaboo image only), four (4), or two (2) using any image!

Limited to 3 projects per person please

Don’t forget your creations can also be made to fit the challenges over at PCP and CADC for the Bugaboo Wacky Wednesday Challenge! There is still plenty of time to play in which is a photo inspiration challenge ! You could win 5 free Bugaboo images so why not join! Also check back during the week because we sponsor many teams throughout the week and that is yet another way to get Bugaboo free!

Here are those useful links again:

To go to the Catch the Bug blog where you will be able to find the links to the store, challenges, tutorials a and a host of other interesting spots, click HERE

To join the Bugaboo Group at CDAC, click HERE
To join the Catch the Bug Group on PCP, click HERE

luv n huggz
Jen
Durban
South Africa

Friday, October 21, 2011

FREEBIE FRIDAY AT BUGABOO STAMPS!

Friday's are GREAT!!

Not only are they the start of a weekend but also because in the digistamps world there is so much happening!!!

One of the most important Friday events is Freebie Friday at Bugaboo and Catch the Bug!

Check out this adorable image Jodie has created for today‘s Freebie Friday! This new image is the first of the new “Bugaboo Critters”. There is an entire collection in the store! Run on over to the store and check out the new releases and grab your freebie! Below is my creation with today’s adorable image that is available in the store.


Here are those useful links again:

To go to the Catch the Bug blog where you will be able to find the links to the store, challenges, tutorials a and a host of other interesting spots, click HERE

To join the Bugaboo Group at CDAC, click HERE
To join the Catch the Bug Group on PCP, click HERE

luv n huggz
Jen
Durban
South Africa

BUGABOO INVADES THE GREETING FARM!

Bugaboo Invades The Greeting Farm–Check it Out!

If you follow Bugaboo and Catch The Bug on a regular basis you know that we had some very special guests join us for our Animal Antic Challenge and what a great job they did! Today marks the start of a new challenge over at Farm Fresh Challenge Blog a division of The Greeting Farm and the Bugaboo DT has joined them for this very exciting challenge, and as a Guest Design I got to join in too!! We all are huge fans of The Greeting Farm and were thrilled when they decided to swap teams with us!

Today’s challenge was to “CASE” a card. Please Go go the Farm Fresh Challenge Blog for all the great deets! Don’t forget to leave some love!

Here is what I created, using The Greeting Farm image called Gothic Roxy



luv n huggz
Jen
Durban, South Africa

GUYLOU'S INIMITABILITY : F-A-L-L RECIPE CHALLENGE

I was invited as a Guest Designer on Guylou's Inimitability Challenge blog for a Fall Recipe Challenge.

Fall is here... at least it is in the Northern Hemisphere! The leaves have changed to wonderful striking colors and the cooler days have returned. In honor of fall, Gina prepared a fun and awesome challenge for us. The challenge is to follow the following F.A.L.L recipe. Your project must have:

• F - Fabric
• A - Amber (color)
• L - Lace
• L - Leaf or leaves
Deadline:
You have until 10:00pm on November 3rd to link your project to the InLinkz at the end of the post at Guylou's Inimitability Challenge Blog. Please make sure your project matches the requirements before you link it. One entry per participant.
Prize:
Guylou is offering a $5.00 gift certificate from her online store. You can enter only one project, but if you use a Guylou's Inimitability digistamp, your project will count for two entries. If you don't have one of her digistamps and your budget is tight; please check her online store where several freebies are available.

Here is the card I made:


Here is how I used the recipe:

F : FABRIC : I used the gold embroidered (on fabric) flower
A : AMBER : The colour amber can be seen in the round gem in the top left corner of my card, as well as in the little amber coloured oak leaf gems
L : LACE : The white picot lace is peeping out behind the black layer on the left hand side of my card.
L : LEAVES : The leaves can be seen in the embroidered flower and the oak leaf flower gems.

I coloured the Guylou's Inimitability image called Farha (available in Guylou's store) using copics, a white gel pen and some glitter and metallic gel pens. The embossing folder is a Cuttlebug one.

This image is my all time favourite one of Guylou's - isn;t she just absolutely the most beautiful?

This card will be given to my friend and bellydancer teacher Gwen, from all the Belly Button Dance Studio dancers who will be performing at the International Oriental Dance Festival in Cape Town next weekend. We leave on Thursday, perform in the Gala Performance on Thursday evening, attend a full day of workshops on Friday, and perform at the Fringe Festival (free to the public) on Saturday and Sunday. In addition we will be dancing to break the World Record for the most bellydancers dancing the same choreography to the same music all at once - in one location. That is so exciting as we have already have double the number of the present world record already signed up! When I get back on Monday I will have some photographs to share - of the costumes that I have been making for the past few months - they are still a secret, but I can share that the costumes the girls are wearing for the Gala Performance are just beautiful. They will be dancing a Bolly/Belly fusion dance to the music/song Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire.

I shall also enter this card into The Outlawz Friday Copics Challenge where the theme is Asian, and this project will fall within the them.

luv n huggz
Jen
Durban South Africa

PROGRESSIVE STEAMPUNK-INSPIRED CHALLENGE - SASSY STUDIO DESIGNS


This is my card for the third round at Sassy Studio Design's Challenge Relay, where we were given a digi stamp and asked to create a project, and yesterday's challenge was Victorian or Vintage.

Colouring Medium : Copics and White Gel Pen

I must admit that I am really enjoying creating with these images, and especially in the steampunk style.

Tomorrow brings another image and a challenge, and I just can't wait!

If you'd like to know more about these images and the challenge please click HERE

luv n huggz
Jen
Durban, South Africa

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

PROGRESSIVE STEAMPUNK-INSPIRED CHALLENGE - SASSY STUDIO DESIGNS

I'd like to share something with you ...

Believe it or not, I have NEVER made a steampunk inspired card, either with a digi or otherwise, although I have long been an admirer of the style.

So, when Sassy Design Studio came up with a Progressive Steampunk Challenge to celebrate 500 followers, I took one look at the first image that was used by the DT, and I just knew I have to play.

A bit of a stretch, as you only get two days to create with the image, upload it to the inlinkz there, so that you get the next image.

Here is what I made for the first challenge, using the image (called Steampunk Joesephine)provided. The challenge was to use metal embellies.


Promise you won't tell my hubby, but the metal embellies didn't come out of my craft room ......

And then last night I got the next image (called Steampunk Amelia), and the challenge is to use clocks and gears ...


The 'gears' are acrylic jewellery making parts, and I sewed them onto the card using invisible cotton, the kind I use for my bellydance costume beading. I added some self-adhesive glittery corners to 'contain' the design.

Over on PCP, at the Sassy Studio Design group, there is also a Trivia question game going on. The question today was "What is a horophile?" and I have used that theme as my sentiment for an extra little bit of sassiness!

You can be sure that I am having such fun and I can't wait for the next image!

luv n huggz
Jen
Durban, South Africa

I will also enter this second card in
The Outlawz Tuesday Colour Challenge
Make it Monday #59 - anything goes

IT'S A NEW RELEASE DAY AT BUGABOO!!!


The BIG news I'd like to share with you today is that there are some new "JJ - Christmas images in the Bugaboo Store - and they are just the greatest! My card above features "JJ Snowflake" - isn't she fabulous! I just love her sassiness! (Is that a word? If it isn't, it should be cos it's the best way to describe JJ!)

Head on over to the Catch the Bug blog to see the Design Team's creations using this awesome image, and from there you'll be able to link to the store to see the other "JJ Christmas" images!

If you love the look of these Bugaboo stamps, why not become a member of one of the groups ...

Here are some handy links:

To join the Bugaboo Group at CDAC, click HERE
To join the Catch the Bug Group on PCP, click HERE

And and if you enter one of the Bugaboo challenges, you could win yourself some stamps. To enter the challenges, click HERE

thanks for looking!

luv n huggz
Jen
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA

I will add this card to the challenge #59 at Make it Monday - anything goes

MIDNIGHT MADNESS SKETCH CHALLENGE #126

This weeks sketch...it's "YOUR PICK" Make it fancy, clean and simple, or somewhere in-between. Remember to click on the sneak peek button on the side bar for the following weeks sketch each Friday.
"YOUR CHOICE"
Enter one style or both this week.
Just have fun and come play with us :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our MMSC126 Weekly Bonus Sponsor is..
http://priscillastyles-store.blogspot.com/ 
The MMSC125 Weekly Bonus winner will win a 
$10 Gift Voucher redeemable for any digi images in the "priscillastyles" Store
Stop by and check out all the new images!!
GC redeemable for digis only!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is this week's Sketch and my creations using an image from A DAY FOR DAISIES:
Sketch created by Jen this week :)


I printed the image on watercolour paper which is super absorbent and therefore gives a fabulous depth of colour. I used Copics and white gel pen and embellished using flowers that I coloured and glittered.

MIDNIGHT MADNESS SKETCH CHALLENGE #125

This weeks sketch...it's "YOUR PICK" Make it fancy, clean and simple, or somewhere in-between. Remember to click on the sneak peek button on the side bar for the following weeks sketch each Friday.
"YOUR CHOICE"
Enter one style or both this week.
Just have fun and come play with us :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our MMSC126 Weekly Bonus Sponsor is..
http://priscillastyles-store.blogspot.com/ 
The MMSC125 Weekly Bonus winner will win a 
$10 Gift Voucher redeemable for any digi images in the "priscillastyles" Store
Stop by and check out all the new images!!
GC redeemable for digis only!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is this week's Sketch and my creations using an image from A DAY FOR DAISIES:
Sketch created by Jen this week :)


I printed the image on watercolour paper which is super absorbent and therefore gives a fabulous depth of colour. I used Copics and white gel pen and embellished using flowers that I coloured and glittered.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

BUGABOO'S "ANIMAL ANTICS" CHALLENGE ... and a couple of guests

On the CATCH THE BUG blog this week, Bugaboo's challenge theme is ANIMAL ANTICS, and a couple of guests from THE GREETING FARM have joined us to give you some inspiration.

Here is my card using some of bunny blocks available in the Bugaboo store:


As usual, here are your useful links:

To join the Bugaboo Group at CDAC, click HERE
To join the Catch the Bug Group on PCP, click HERE

And to enter the challenge, click HERE

luv n huggz
Jen
Durban
South Africa

Friday, October 14, 2011

FRIDAY MEANS A NEW SET OF RELEASES from A DAY FOR DAISIES

My very favourite style of Tammy's images are her vintage ones ... and today I have used a vintage nursery rhyme illustration for "Mary Mary, ..." do you remember that one?

Mary Mary quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.

I did some research on the origin of the nursery rhyme and it proved to be a very interesting read.  I won't spoil the fun .. go ahead, google it, you;ll be surprised!

Back to my card ... here it is ...

I printed the image on watercolour paper, and then coloured using Copics, and oh boy, that in itself is a challenge.  the paper is SO absorbent, and I had to be really careful not to lay down too much colour so that it soaked beyond the lines of the image.  I did the usual distressing with a Color Box Chalk Inkpad, and added some real vintage lace, a pretty flower, a couple of flat back pearls and a satin ribbon.

This card is also you inspiration for the new challenge "Use your Noodle and add a doodle"  If you look carefully at her dress, you will see that her dress has a border pattern that I doodled in using a grey fine liner pen.

I hope that you are suitably inspired now to enter the new challenge too.




This fabulous set is not the only one in the new releases, the others are equally as precious!

As usual I have a set of useful links for you:

Click HERE to go to the A Day for Daisies group on Crafters Digital Art Centre

Click HERE to go to the A Day for Daisies group on Paper Craft Planet

Click HERE to go to the A Day for Daisies group on The Crafter's Cafe

Or click HERE to go to the A DAY FOR DAISIES STORE.

luv n huggz

Jen

Durban

BUGABOO STAMPS SPONSORS CARD MAKING MAMA'S

As part of the Bugaboo Design Team for September and October, I got to make a card for the sponsored challenge at CARD MAKING MAMA'S, where the theme is Halloween.

I can't think of a better sponsor for a Halloween Challenge than Bugaboo, and what fun I had creating my card:


I made a fancy fold card to accommodate the range of Bugaboo Halloween cuties I used. They are all available from the Bugaboo Stamps store, and besides an extensive range for Halloween, you will be able to find a digi for absolutely any occasion, even for 'just because'

So hop along to the Bugaboo store, grab yourself an image or two, and enter the Card Making Mama's challenge - you may be the lucky winner of some more Bugaboo stamps!

luv n huggz
Jen
Durban, South Africa

ANOTHER FREEBIE FRIDAY AT THE 'CATCH THE BUG'

Today Bugaboo stamps has the cutest little freebie for you - A Halloween Peeker - she's the most adorable little witch!

This is the project that I made with her ...

I printed her and coloured before fussy-cutting out the image. The I separated the head from the cauldron and pasted it on a sentiment printed in a table in MS Word.

The cauldron was pasted onto a mat made of an offcut of some pretty glittery paper, into which a slit had been made.

The Halloween silhouette background is also an image from Bugaboo, and I embellished that using some googly eyes. The cat charm was originally pink, but I painted it black using black nail polish - wonderful paint for embellies - did you know that?

As usual, here are your useful links:

To join the Bugaboo Group at CDAC, click HERE
To join the Catch the Bug Group on PCP, click HERE

You can hop to the Catch the Bug blog here where you will find the link to the
Freebies page.

Please be sure to leave some comments of the fabulous projects created by the Design Team.

luv n huggz
Jen
Durban
South Africa

SHELLY'S IMAGES TERRIFICALLY THRILLING THURSDAY

Hi everyone!!! It's Thursday again and at Shelly's Images we have a lot to share with you. In the spotlight today is the new image called "Fall Firends" and a new Challenge "Show us your layers". Use at least 4 layers on your project.

In the Northern Hemisphere it's Autumn and the days are getting cold and rainy, and our Image today goes along with the Holidays ahead. The image is actually part of a set can be used for Halloween or Autumn/Fall projects. This beautiful set can be bought for a special price for Today only, so hop over to the shop and grab it. This is my card made with the image, just to inspire you :


Be sure to check back tomorrow for a very special Fabulous Freebie Friday.

And now we go to our Challenge, this week it's Show Us Your Layers. Use at least 4 Layers on your project!!!

We sure hope we got a lot of entries, but there are some rules please follow them:

- No backlinking to old projects
- Each submission must be a new project

As usual here are my handy links:

To check out this and many other fabulous images in Shelly's store, click HERE
To join Shelly's group on CDAC, click HERE
To visit Shelly's blog where you can find lots of new techniques, and view the fabulous inspiration of my fellow D-Teamies, click HERE

Luv n huggz
Jen
Durban, South Africa

This card will also be entered in the following challenges:

Crafting for all Seasons : fall flower/pumpkins
Crafts and Me - #56 orange
Fab 'n' Funky - 1E, C10 - #94 fall colors
For Fun Challenges - 3E, C10 - pumpkins - no faces
House That Stamps Built - 2W, SIO - Halloween/Fall
Paper Pretties - SIO -PPC175 Halloween inspired
Paper Shelter Challenge - 3E, SIO - #35 animals
7 Kids College Fund - 2W, 3E, SIR - #31 Halloween
Simon Says Stamp - Halloween/Goth

These are all great challenges, with great prizes, so why don't you hop over to them all, and enter your creations too!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

BUGABOO TUTORIAL : COLOUR YOUR STAMPED IMAGES LIKE A PRO

It's my turn, as the Guest Designer at Bugaboo Stamps, to share a tutorial with you today.

It works well, especially with fabulous images like the Bugaboo stamps, and if you'd like to see more of those cuties that are available, you can link through to the store from the Catch the Bug Blog here.

This colouring tutorial is the one that I present at the in2crafts@Hobby-X workshops, in Gauteng, South Africa, twice a year.

Watercolour pencils are expensive and to have a good range of colours, you need to mortgage your home -= well in South Africa you do!

I developed this technique which allows you to use ANY good quality coloured pencils in combination with/or without your watercolour pencils.

This is the pictorial tutorial, and the whole tutorial, explanation and some hints and tips will follow towards the end of this post.

Here goes ...







HOW TO COLOUR YOUR STAMPED IMAGES LIKE A PRO

................but be warned ………….. it can become an addiction!

You will need :

Printed digistamp : Your digistamp must preferably be laser printed but you can print on a inkjet printer, on the “fast normal” setting, and if you can, use black ink setting only. For this technique there is no need to heat set your image first.
Coloured pencils, regular or watercolour, and neon and metallic will work for this technique too - or a ombination of all
They don’t need to be watercolour pencils – I use ..

Staedtler Noris Club Pencils
Staedtler Triplus
Tricki Dicki Neons by Eberhard Faber
Tricki Dicki by Eberhard Faber
Othello Metallics by Stabilo
Rolfes Forest Colours
Bic Coloured Pencils
Pritt Kids Art Pencils
In fact any well known brand, as long as they are of a good quality and slightly ‘waxy’
OMS aka Odorless Turpentine / odorless mineral spirits (OMS)
Fine paintbrush cotton buds (Q-tips): Start off with a cotton bud and then try a paintbrush (0 or 00), or the compressed paper blenders when you are more confident
But a compressed paper pencil (traditionally used for pewter work works BEST!)
Tiny container for turps like a milk bottle cap or anything that size
Absorbent paper - A tissue or a kitchen paper towel sheet to dry your brush/cotton bud after rinsing in the turps between painting different colours

Now this is the EASY way to do it, without the flops…

1. It’s best to work on a sheet of white paper or card.

2. Using your paintbrush or a cotton bud, paint a layer of turps over a small area that you want to colour. I usually start with the skin. You will see that the turps soaks into the paper and makes it a grey colour, and goes beyond the borders of the image. This is fine because it evaporates and disappears completely once dry. (I usually use a half-capful and pour it over the image, and wipe off the excess with a tissue)

3. Now while the turps is still damp (it will stay damp enough to work on for at least 30 mins), use your flesh coloured pencil and colour in the arms, legs, face, etc. You will feel that the pencil glides on VERY smoothly. Try and colour evenly, and leave no white spaces, although these can be rectified very easily later. For darker colours you will need a “light” hand. Use a circular colouring motion as this gives you better control and will reduce the uneven colouring

4. Once you have coloured all the skin, again using the paintbrush or a cotton bud brush and turps, paint over the area that you have just coloured with the pencil. You will find that the colour seems to liquify and “smoothes” out. It will remove a lot of the colour and a paler, chalky look will remain.

5. Then go onto the next area you want to colour, and repeat the process, until your whole image is coloured.

6. At this stage you will be able to see any white, uncoloured areas show up clearly. To fix those, colour with the pencil and paint with the turps.
Now your image is coloured and if you are satisfied with the result, leave it somewhere to dry.

*Your image is dry when the damp patch all around the coloured image has disappeared. When it is dry you will see that you have a beautifully coloured image and there would be nothing wrong in leaving it that way.

*If you would prefer it to have some shading, you can go over the already coloured areas with the same colour pencil to do your shading – you need a little heavier “hand” here and must press a little harder.

*However, if you are fortunate enough to have two or three shades of the same colour in your kit of assorted pencils, you could experiment with using orange to shade yellow areas, dark green to shade lime green, and a pale brown to shade the skin areas, etc

*Once you have done the shading, use the paint brush and turps again over the whole coloured area to smooth it and blend the newly coloured areas with the previously coloured areas.

Tips

- Some colours are “stronger’ than others and you will need to have a very “light” hand for these if you want a pastel look.
- The more even your first colour goes on, the more even your final result, although the turps is a miracle worker.
- Use small circular movements when painting over the coloured area with the turps, it seems to blend more easily.
- The bigger the contrast between your light and dark shading, the more dramatic your effect and will give your finished product the WOW factor,
There you have it – it’s flop proof and really inexpensive - you can use both watercolour pencils and regular coloured pencils for this technique. If you have a couple of sets from different manufacturers, the shades differ from pack to pack and this will help you in your shading.

And then my secret ingredient ... once your image is dry, spray it with a fine mist of clear aerosol lacquer (matt or gloss), this makes the colour pop brighter and some parts of your colouring will get a lovely professional gloss, without ruining the uncoloured card.

I hope you found this interesting. I can guarantee the results, as every one of my students has succeeded and produced a finished coloured image that wowed even themselves!

luv n huggz
Jen

October 2011/Jen Leeflang

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

MIDNIGHT MADENSS SKETCH CHALLENGE #125

This week’s sketch...it's "YOUR PICK" Make it fancy, clean and simple, or somewhere in-between. Remember to click on the sneak peek button on the side bar for the following weeks sketch each Friday.
"YOUR CHOICE"
Enter one style or both this week.
Just have fun and come play with us :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our October Monthly sponsor info....
Due to circumstances beyond my control, there will be no monthly sponsor for Oct.
Thank you for understanding.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is this week's Sketch and creations:


My card features an image from Bugaboo Stamps, called “Make it Snappy – Congratulations”, available in the store here, and coloured using Copics. The gems are self adhesive and the sequins and beads are sewn on. Papers and ribbon from my stash.

I hope you will join us on the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge today - you have all week to do so. Hop on over to the Bugaboo Store too, to check out all the fabulous images available. I don't think I have come across another store with that many images in it! There is sure to be something that you cannot live without, as there is an image for every occasion imaginable, and even a couple for sending just because they're so funny! (funny ha-ha, that is!)

luv n huggz
jen
Durban, South Africa

Saturday, October 8, 2011

BUGABOO CHALLENGE AT CATCH THE BUG : Anything but a card for Halloween

Good Morning and it's time for the Weekly Challenge ! Today’s challenge is to work ahead on all those Halloween gifts.

Create your ABC (Anything But a Card) projects! Please don’t be intimidated by ABC’s .... you can alter a container, create a container or just alter a Candy package whatever it is we want to see your spooky creations!

The rules are simple:

Create a Halloween ABC (anything but a card) project and post a link to it on Bugaboo Stamps' challenge blog, Catch the Bug, by 10/15/11 at 6:00 AM EST to be entered a random drawing for three digi prize packs - seven (7) (using a Bugaboo image only), four (4), or two (2) using any image!

Limited to 3 projects per person please

Here is the Halloween ABC I made - I label for a Bugab(r)oo B(r)oo:

I have had this faceted glass bottle for such a long time, and it has a flat surface for a label on the one side - absolutely perfect to showcase bottle labels that I love to make.

I use one of the Cute Halloween Blocks, one of the images at the Bugaboo Store, and coloured using Copics. The label is a simple one without too many embellies because I wanted to show you just how easy it is to create an ABC!

Are you convinced now? Does that mean you'll be entering our challenge at the Catch the Bug blog?

As usual, here are your useful links:

To join the Bugaboo Group at CDAC, click HERE
To join the Catch the Bug Group on PCP, click HERE

And to enter the challenge, click HERE

luv n huggz
Jen
Durban
South Africa

Friday, October 7, 2011

VINTAGE HALLOWEEN AT A DAY FOR DAISIES!

Tammy newest release at A Day For Daisies is just EXCEPTIONAL!

Elegant, vintage ladies in costume for a spook~a~licious Halloween party! And some adorable little images for the kiddies, too! Wouldn't they be fun to add as toppers to bags of Halloween treats!
The new set is called "Vintage Halloween" and you can grab it up in the shop (remember that I add a list of useful links at the end of my post).

I chose to work with "Vintage Butterfly"

and this is the card I made:


I printed the image onto maize coloured album board, and coloured with Copics, after which Stickles were added to the wings. Butterflies and gems are my embellies.

This fabulous set is not the only one in the new releases, the others are equally as precious!

As usual I have a set of useful links for you:

Click HERE to go to the A Day for Daisies group on Crafters Digital Art Centre
Click HERE to go to the A Day for Daisies group on Paper Craft Planet
Click HERE to go to the A Day for Daisies group on The Crafter's Cafe

Or click HERE to go to the A DAY FOR DAISIES STORE.

luv n huggz
Jen
Durban
South Africa

Thursday, October 6, 2011

SHELLY'S IMAGE : TERRIFICALLY THRILLING THURSDAY

This week our challenge theme is "Something Sweet", and we'd like you to make a project that shows us something sweet.

I used the image "Mug Set" image to inspire you for the "Something Sweet" Challenge. This image is actually two images in one. With the purchase of this image you get the Hot Cocoa cup as well as the Coffee cup. And remember, the image is available at a special price for today only.


And here is my project - a recipe card for making your own squishy marshmallows.


There are some lovely prizes up for grabs for the lucky winners, so show us your "Something Sweet" project today.

As usual, here are your handy links:

To check out this and many other fabulous images in Shelly's store, click HERE
To join Shelly's group on CDAC, click HERE
To visit Shelly's blog where you can find lots of new techniques, and view the fabulous inspiration of my fellow D-Teamies, click HERE

Luv n huggz
Jen
Durban, South Africa

DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY : THINK PINK

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH! and so the challenge at Digistamps 4 Joy is

THINK PINK!

Here is my card for your inspiration, using Selena, a DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY image:


The image was Copics-coloured, and the corners punched using a Martha Stewart corner punch. The flowers are Chinese roses that I cut freehand, and made myself, and I added some flourishes from A Mariannes Creatables die.

If you would like the chance to win some awesome prizes, please head on over to the Digistamps 4 Joy store.

If you enter a papercraft project using a non-Digistamps 4 Joy image, you will get one entry into the random draw.

BUT

If you use a Digistamps 4 Joy image on your entry, you double your chances of winning .... you get two entries into the random draw! Now isn't that a bonus!?!

One random winner will be chosen (random.org) to win 3 images of choice from the store.

We will then have a DT's choice award. This award will go to the card / project that we vote to be our favourite (and must be a digistamps4joy image). This winner will receive a $6 gift voucher to spend in the store. We hope that there will be an entry (or two) using a Digistamps 4 Joy image, as there wasn't one in the previous challenge.

You do not need to use a Digistamps4Joy image to win, but we’d love it if you do!
We will choose 2 runners-up who we feel deserve a spot in the top 3.

Challenge Rules
You can use any image for the challenges. See above.
You have two weeks to enter the challenge.
You may enter a maximum of three (3) entries per DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY challenge.
Your entry must be new. No backlinking to previous posts.
Please link back to Digistamps 4 Joy blog.
Projects that do not follow the theme will not be entered into the draw.
Please use the Inlinkz to link to your CARD/ PROJECT only, please don't link to your entire blog.
You may combine this challenge with other challenges.
If you don't have a blog then please load your card/project into the gallery on the website, and link to that.

The most important rule, however, is to have fun!

As usual, here are my useful links for you:

Digistamps 4 Joy store

I will also add my card to the following challenges:
Celebrate the Occasion
Lexi's Creations

luv n huggz
Jen

PS remember your regular self-exams, and mammograms! It could be a matter of life or death!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

BUGABOO STAMPS : WACKY WEDNESDAY

The theme for this week's Wacky Wednesday Is Buttons and Bows, and here is my inspiration for you:

My card features the image called "Rosecan", and it was Copics-coloured, with just the roses being printed a second time, glossy accents added, and popped up on foam squares to add a little dimension. The diecut is embellished using sewn-on pearls and satin ribbon and the bow is secured with a pearly button.

Just a FEW Wacky Wednesday Challenge Rules

1. Because this is a Bugaboo Stamps group challenge a Bugaboo Stamps image is a must. You can download a free image here if you need one, or you can purchase one here.

2. You must post your project in the CDAC or PCP gallery with the tags: BugWW and challenge # (BugWW#22). NEW NEW NEW - Please also post it in the Inlinkz this is an easier way to locate your projects AND by adding them to inlinkz you are adding them to PCP and CDAC which = MORE CHANCES TO WIN!!!!

3. One winner to receive five free images (of his/her choice) and bragging rights as the Wacky Winner.

4. Please create new projects only - No back linking to old projects.

5. Your project will be in both groups but one winner per group will be chosen. If your project fits the current challenge on Bugaboo Stamps' challenge blog, Catch the Bug, you may also enter it there.

6. The winners are announced with the following week's challenge which will be posted at 7:00 AM EST, so be on the look out!

We can't wait to see how you get inspired by this week's challenge!!
We LOVE having you play along!

As always ... here are your useful links:

To join the Bugaboo Group at CDAC, click HERE
To join the Catch the Bug Group on PCP, click HERE

luv n huggz
Jen
Durban, South Africa

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

MIDNIGHT MADNESS SKETCH CHALLENGE

This week’s sketch...it's "YOUR PICK" Make it fancy, clean and simple, or somewhere in-between. Remember to click on the sneak peek button on he side bar for the following weeks sketch each Friday.
"YOUR CHOICE"
Enter one style or both this week.
Just have fun and come play with us :)
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Our MMSC124 Weekly Bonus Sponsor is..
D'Amour Allure was formed as a result of a love for papercrafting and rubber stamps. Our stamps include vintage styles to character art. Please browse the collections at our exclusive retailer, http://www.mcmahonfivedesign.com/.
Check out the awesome MMSC124 Bonus Prize!
 Complete Prize is..
Valentine Collection Stamps Set
4 – 12x12 Sheets of Kaisercraft Valentine Paper Collection
12 Prima Fairytale Roses
What a great prize..thank you so much Jen!
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Our October Monthly sponsor info....
Due to circumstances beyond my control, there will be no monthly sponsor for Oct.
Thank you for understanding.
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Here is this week's Sketch and my creation:

My image is from Allure D"Amour and I edited it to change the color. It was then printed onto a DP I made myself by scanning some vintage paper. Instead of colouring it, I highlighted it with a white gel pen only, and added some shadows to behind the figures to make them stand out a little more. The stitching is roll on faux stitching from Fabscraps, and the vintage DP is from an ll in one pack from the thrift store. With some careful chalking I got it to look similar in colour to the DP I made. The flourishes were from a RAK a received a very long time ago, and the roses are from my stash.

Thanks for looking, and if you would like to be in the running for one those fabulous prizes, you really need to enter your creation at the Challenge blog./

luv n huggz
jen
Durban, South Africa